Method of and apparatus for flowing wells



O. C. DUNN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FLOWING WELLS Filed June ll. 1928 INI/.ENTOR- 6T Dan/7.

@e i'i March 1, 1932- A TTORNEY Patented Mar. l, 1932 `UNITED STATES 'PATENT oFFlcEf ORTON' C. DUNN, 0F MARIETTA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO AIR LHT DEVELOPMENT CORPORA- TION, 0F TULSA, OKLAHOMA, A CORPORATION 0F OIULAHOMA METHOD OF .AND APPARATUS FOR FLOWING WELLS 'Application led June 11,

My invention relates to a method of and apparatus for flowing wells and more partlcularly to a method and apparatus of that character whereby wells producing a relaintermittently with a pressurexmedium such as air or natural gas; the principal object of the present invention being to control supply of the pressure medium so as to permit alternate accumulation and discharge of the well Huid without manual operation.

In accomplishing this object I have provided improved details of structure, the preerred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of apparatus embodyingand illustrating my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of part-of the pressure medium supply line, particularly illustrating a flow restricting member. l i

Fig. 3 is an elevational view partlyin section of a modified form of apparatus.

Referring in detail Ato the drawings:

1 designates a well hole extending through cap rock 2 to a shot hole 3 within oil sands 4. 5 designates well casing supported by a shoe 6 on the cap rock 2 'and provided with a casing head 7 having an outlet pipe 8 through which gas accumulated in the casing may be conducted in accordance with common practice.'

hole and The casing head is provided with a gland 9 supporting a' bushing 10. 11 designates Well tubing suspended from the bushing 10 and extended through the casing into the shot p terminating in a perforated anchor 1'2 connected with the .body of the tube by a coupling 13. Mounted on and e/Xtending above the bushing 10 is a joint of tubing 14 carrying a T 15, providing an outlet for the tubing through a pipe -16 leading from the side of the T. Mounted on the T is a packed coupling 17, carrying an air or gas line 18 tivelysmall volume of oil, may be flowed -pressure medium to the 1928. Serial No. 284,525.

which leads through the tubing to the bottom of the well and there communicates with the crown 19 of a standing valve 20 seated in the coupling 13; the valve including the usual ball 21 which is adapted to rise in the crown to permit upward flow of oil from the anchor on the tube and check backflow from the tubing.

The lower end of the air or gas line 18 is provided with a port 22 providing communication between the line. and tubing and Aanother port 23 is provided in the line abve the port 22 for passage of a boosting volume of tubing, as will presently be described. 24 designates a line leading to the coupling 17 for supplying pressure medium to the line 18 from a suitable source, such as a compressor or feed line.

, The invention includes means for restricting flow of pressure medium, here illustrated as consisting of an orifice plate 25 clamped'between coupling sleeves onto adjacent sections of the line 24 and held in close relation by a collar 28 having one end threaded onto the collar 27 and its other end provided with an inset iiange 29 ,engaging over an outset flange 30 on the sleeve 26. The orifice 31 in plate 25 may be of roper dimensions yfor admitting a desired pressure medium to the well. Plates having orifices of different. diameter may be substituted one for another`to determine the volume of intake of pressure medium.

The outletline 8 from the well casing is provided with a globe valve 32 and the pressure medium supply line 24 with a valve 33 forl controlling iiow through the respective lines and located on the well sides of the valves 32 and 33 is a branch 34connectin the casing outlet line with the pressure medium supply line so that natural gas accumulating owof*4 in the well being flowed may be employed for y u medium supply lines when the pressure medium is supplied from a compressor or anyl source other than the well being flowed.

Assumin that a well is equipped with the apparatus escribed, the method of flowing is as follows:

Oil having accumulated in the bottom of the well to about the llevel indicated in Fig.

* 1 of the drawings, pressure medium is admitted through the lines 24 and 18 and discharged through the ports 22 and 23 into the tubing. The pressure medium discharged K through ports 22 and 23intothe tubing, ex-

tubing which eventually lifts the head of oil formed about the pressure head.

As a fluid charge orvpiston is liftedupwardly in the tubing, a drop in pressure results, due to the increased area produced in the tubing by the upward displacement of the lectin g fluid charge. A second fluid charge is thereupon admitted to the tubing and the pressure is again built up in the tubing, until the colfluid charge and accumulating pressure assume relative proportions for upward admission of uid to the'tubing, r

displacement of the charge, the upper fluid charge being supported by the pressure confined between the next lower fluid charge and lifted successively with each successive fluid charge, until discharged into a flow line connecting with the tubing at the top of the-well.

In some cases be discharged from the well before further but in any event discharge of a slug of oil om the tubing permits quickrelief of pressure in the tub ing so that oil may enter the tubing from the well pocket, even though pressure in the pocket may be lower than the iiowing pressure.

Where a well is producing a considerable volume of gas with a relatively small volume of oil, the gas may be employed for flowing the oil. For operating the well by this method the valve 32 in the casing outlet line and the valve 33 in the pressure medium supply line are closed and the valve 35 in branch 34 opened so that gas from the well is diverted into the pressure medium supply line Y. for return to the well, where it may be employed for flowing the oil, in the same manner as when the well is flowed with air or gas furnishedfrom a compressor. n

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3, I eliminate the pressure medium supply line of the preferred form and supply the pressure medium directly to either the tubing or casing of the well. In

the elevated slug of oil mayA Fig. 3 I have illustrated the supply of pressure medium to the casing through a line 36 containing an orifice plate 37, similar to the plate 25 of the preferred form and similarly mounted in the supply line. The tubing 38 extends through a packer 39 at the bottom of the well and is provided with ports 40 affording communication between the casing and the tubing.

The tubing is suspended from a bushing 41 carried by the gland 42 on the casing head 43 and has a line 44 leading to a stock tank or other receptacle. An outlet 45 is provided on the casing head for relieving the casing of its vaccumulated gas under control of a valve 46.

- In practicing the method with the modified form of apparatus, pressure medium is admitted, to the casing about the tubing and forces accumulated oil into the tubing and up throughv the tubing to the outlet line; the check valve operating to control flow of oil to and from the tubing, as previously described with relation' to the preferred form of the invention.

While I have illustrated flow of oil through the tubing by a pressure medium admitted to the casing, it is apparent that the direction of flow may be reversed by supplying the pressure medium to the tubing so that the oil may be flowed from the casing.

. Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of flowing wells including trapping well liquid in a discharge line by means of a foot valve located in the line below the natural level of liquid in the well,

delivering gas or air through a pressure linel to said discharge line above said valve and below said liquid level, supplying gas or air continuously to said pressure line for successive flowing steps, and restricting the flow of said gas or air through said pressure line at a point in spaced relation above said level to successively build up pressure in said gas or air line, lift liquid in said discharge line, permit operation of said valve for admitting liquid to the discharge line, and automatically repeat said steps.

2. Apparatus of the character described including a ow line adapted for receiving liquid from a well, a foot valve in said line for preventing back flow of liquid to the well, a pressure line having an opening to the flow line below the levelle to which liquid will rise in the well, and an orifice plate in said well, a pressure line having an opening to the How line below the level to whlch liquid v 4will rise in the well and a booster opening above said level, and an orifice plate in said pressure line in spaced relation with said openings to produce a pressure-aecumulatin chamber in the pressure line above said leve and proportioned to produce an intermittent ow.

10 In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ORTON C. DUNN. 

